A Most Prestigious Cinematic Production

As part of my long weekend recuperative activities, I went to see The Prestige this afternoon. I was impressed, though initially hesitant about its subject matter considering The Illusionist was recently released. I was assured, however, that they are not similar apart from the fact that they both feature magicians.

The story is probably the most interesting. It starts off believably, focusing on the illusory aspect of turn of the [nineteenth] century magicians Alfred Borden (Christian Bale) and Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman), who under the guidance of Cutter (Michael Caine) create more and more illusions to wow the masses. The "accidental" death of Angier's wife, Julia (Piper Perabo), however, turns Borden and Angier against each other, and a very extensive rivalry ensues, each man attempting to discover and better the other's secrets to their illusions. It gets especially interesting with the involvement of early studies in electricity as conducted by Nikola Tesla (David Bowie, who looks old and not very Bowiesque). I cannot say much more without ruining the creepy, twisted ending, but just know that it's pretty clever and justifiable.

It's sort of weird in that it's hard to distinguish which of the two main characters are worthy of your support. Throughout the majority of the film, I thought I like Angier better, but then my affection for him waned a little as his obsession with revenge went from somewhat noble to downright creepy. Borden was hard to trust, though as the story unravelled, you couldn't help but feel for him... a little.

Just as a note, Scarlett Johansson's role as Olivia Wenscombe, the magician's assistant, is played up a little on the movie poster and in the trailer. Though her character's role in the story is kind of important (as a double agent at the height of the rivalry), it seemed like Johansson was there more to look pretty than to act. And she has a super-fake British accent.

Speaking of accents, it was weird to hear Christian Bale with his "native" accent. I think that in everything I have seen him to date he's had a North American accent. And I really didn't get why Hugh Jackman's character had a North American accent, when it seemed like he should have had an English one (as most of it was set in London and his travels to Colorado seemed foreign).

And speaking of Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman, HELLO HOTTIES. Seriously. H-O-T.

One thing that viewers might find tedious would be the way in which the backstory was presented. It jumps around a lot, starting with the end and then filling in the blanks sort of deal. Sometimes hard to follow, yes, but ultimately it allows the ending to be presented to full effect.

So...... this was a pretty good movie. I would recommend that you see it, if not now, eventually. I would now like to see The Illusionist, just to see how it portrays the old-timey magician bit. I also want to read the book The Prestige, though I think the movie was based loosely on it.

Other Movies I'd Like To See:

• The Departed
• Apocalypto (with my Dad)
• Stranger Than Fiction
• Borat (just because......)
• Night At The Museum
• The Fountain
• Flushed Away
• Children of Men
  
• Babel
• Confetti
• For Your Consideration (I watched Waiting for Guffman and Best In Show this weekend - too funny)